fair trade beads
Whenever
possible I
use Fair Trade beads for my designs.
These
are beads
handmade in relatively small batches by skilled artisans (mostly in
countries outside of North America and Western Europe) who receive
fair and just returns for their work. The purchase of such beads not
only provides a livelihood to the artisans but also acknowledges and
honors their art and craftsmanship.
How
can one be sure that the
purchase of these beads is, in fact, a fair exchange? The fairness of
such trade is supervised and guaranteed by organizations such as,
among others, Fair
Trade Federation and Trans Fair USA.
fair trade beads i
use are:
kazuri
beads
'Kazuri'
means “small and beautiful” in Swahili and these lovely ceramic
beads are handmade by women in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya using
clay from the area of Mt. Kenya. For more information on kazuri beads
click here
above: assorted thai silver, black silver, vermeil beads, and bali silver beads
hill tribe
silver beads from Northern Thailand
Made
of 99% pure silver, these enchanting fine silver beads, often
representing traditional motifs and techniques, reflect the artistry
of the Karen people of northern Thailand. I use only Hill tribe
silver that is available as fair trade beads. Please check out the
culture and artwork of the Karen silversmiths by visiting
www.shiana.com
All
Bali silver and
brass beads, and, Bali silver and brass chains and
findings featured anywhere in my collections are fair trade
products handmade by skilled metal smiths from Bali, Indonesia
bracelet made with kazuri beads and riverstone pebbles
